Midway officials review DCSO coverage

Monday

Apr 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Midway officials are evaluating the coverage provided by the Davidson County Sheriff's Office.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

Midway officials are evaluating the coverage provided by the Davidson County Sheriff's Office.Members of the Midway Town Council recently discussed the possibility of making a request to Davidson County Sheriff David Grice for two deputies to be assigned exclusively to the town. This comes after Midway resident Randy Lovett approached the town council concerning more patrols in his subdivision off of Gumtree Road.Lovett first presented the idea of assigning deputies to the town about a year ago after a rash of vehicle break-ins in Midway. He said he's inquired about the subject with town officials each month since making the request.""I think it will cut back on the break-ins, the speeding where people go flying around in the neighborhoods and stuff like that," Lovett said of two deputies being assigned to Midway.Midway Mayor Norman Wilkes said town officials have requested figures from Grice concerning the cost for two deputies to be assigned specifically to the town. The mayor confirmed Midway pays $75,000 annually for coverage."We appreciate what the sheriff is doing, but I know some citizens have concerns (and) would like to see more (patrol activity) in the subdivisions," said Wilkes, who favors a satellite office being located in Midway for the DCSO.For the annual $75,000, Midway has deputies who respond from three of the sheriff's department zones around the clock in northern Davidson County, Grice said."They have a whole lot more coverage than any other place that the county has," the sheriff said of Midway. "I think they get exceptional coverage. We are going to proceed slowly with it. When they get a cost estimate, it would be represented of the real cost. I think they would be going backwards in their expectations."Devoting two deputies to Midway could result in some repercussions, Grice said."If we dedicate two people there, it might result in the perception that we don't need the others patrolling as intensively," he said. "… We have to have a clear-cut understanding of their expectations and our expectations, and I haven't achieved that. I haven't talked that closely to them yet."In the event he assigned deputies to Midway, he would not be placing his newest deputies there, Grice said. He said it would be deputies who have reached the deputy II rank. The sheriff said he also would factor in the cost of vehicles, mileage and support staff."I think it's a slippery slope to get into in regard to the other towns," Grice said of assigning deputies to Midway.In addition to the unincorporated areas of Davidson County, the sheriff's office also covers the Town of Wallburg. Denton, Thomasville and Lexington each have their own police departments.Wilkes said there has been some discussion concerning Midway establishing its own police department. However, Midway officials discovered it would cost between $150,000 and $200,000 to start a department."We feel like at this time, we are getting what we need until we come to that avenue about having maybe a police department or a satellite office," Wilkes said. "… Looking 24/7, it gets quite expensive."Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.